public/private crabbing

[Sternerthecrab]

     This might seem like a stupid question but I have to ask....   Can you crab off of ANY pier or dock if it's not posted "private property" or "no trespassing"?
I'm not talking about  marina docks or boat slips, that's a no-brainer.  It's just that NJ laws seem much different than PA for public access and I do not want to be on the wrong side of the law here.

     I was thinking of taking my kids and their friends on a day trip somewhere in NJ along the ocean.  I'm not looking for the bay side because of the driving times.  We might as well drive to some spots in DE in the same amount of time.  GoogleEarth is an excellent scouting tool but it will not tell if some areas are public or not.

     Any help keeping us legal will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks again,

Mike

[Ron]

You should be ok on public property or land not posted with signs restricting crabbing.

[tattoo]

YEP . good luck and HAPPY CRABBING. 

[Sternerthecrab]

Thanks for the input guys.  As a non-resident, I am not yet used to what the rules are in NJ.  The last thing the officer wants to hear is " but that's how we do it back home..." 

[Ron]

The last thing an officer wants to hear is:   "Really?    I swear I thought your daughter was 18..."

[eelfisher]

where at you lookin to crab?

[nadapesca]

I might be wrong in what I think I was reading, but you say you're going to crab along the ocean? None there except calicos and spiders. Occasionally I've heard of a blueclaw in the surf and somebody used the term "ocean run" blue claws, but generally they're in bays or rivers. Ignore me if you were just using the term in general. Hamburg is a long drive if you're not sure where to go. If you do decide to do some bulkhead crabbing, PM me for a few spots.